COMPLETE DEADLOCK

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12395, 15 March 1926, Page 7

COMPLETE DEADLOCK

POLAND STANDS OUT AGAINST GERMANY’S ADMITTANCE

. NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

WHOLE QUESTION SHELVED UNTIL MEETING TO-MORROW

A complete deadlock has been the outcome of the long series of conferences amongst the different statesmen at Geneva on the question of the admittance of Germany to the League of Nations and to a permanent seat on the Council of the League. Tke Germans are holding fast to their slogan, "Ourselves Alone,” and neither the reasonings of Sir Austen Chamberlain and the eloquent appeals of M. Briand can move them from their resolve. Although Brazil has waived her right in the meantime, Poland, with the hacking of Sweden and Belgium, is determined to gain a status equal to that of Germany. The whole question has now been shelved until Tuesday, when, at the meeting of the League, all will be forced to show their hands.

TENTATIVE SOLUTION

FRAMED BY “BIG FIVE.” Reuter’s Telegram. PARIS, March 12. According to the Havas Agency’s Geneva correspondent this morning the “Big Fire” gave promise of ending the deadlock and reached a tentative solution as follows: — (1) Germany will immediately be gi anted entry into the League with a seat on the Council; (2) the creation of fresh permanent members to be referred to a committee to investigate tho whole question of the composition of the Council and report in ‘September ; (3) Poland to he given a nonpermanent seat on the Council forthwith. There is reason to think that the whole question of permanent seats will be reserved. For the first time the Germans today did not oppose the grant of a non-permanent seat to Poland. They asked for time to consider it. The correspondent states that Herr Undon (Sweden) does not oppose the immediate grant of a non-permanent seat to Poland, provided Germany consents. DAY OFIxdTEMENT M. BRIAND AND THE GERMANS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 13, Yesterday wa® a most exciting day at Geneva. Brazil and Spain waived their demands, but M. Briand urged that the Germans agree to Poland’s having a non-permanent seat till September. On the Germans refusing this, M. Briand upbraided them, hut Herr Stresemann retorted: “The French have thrown the hall at us. We return it.” The result is that there is a continued deadlock. TRAGIC OUTCOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS USELESS. Reuter’s (Reoeived March 14, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, March 13. Sir Austen Chamberlain, interviewed, said that although he had been moro hopeful yesterday of a satisfactory settlement of the Council membership problem, as the result of M. Vandervelde’s (Belgium) passionate appeal, M. Briand’s conciliatory attitude, and his own efforts to go one better, he now felt that Dr Luther’s rejection of their pioposals made all the efforts to continue the conversartions useless. He described the outcome of the efforts as a tragedy, and added that as to the future the whole affair wa»i in the hands of the League Council. It was impossible to say what the reaction of the latest events would be. M. BRIAND STILL HOPEFUL M. Briand baa postponed his departure from Geneva, being hopeful of a settlement. It is regarded *s significant, that Sir Austen Chamberlain lunched with the German delegates; It is officially stated the Big Five’s negotiations have failed. The question will he referred to the Council of the League immediately.

BRAZIL ATTITUDE CHANGED LUTHER STILL ADAMANT. Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association' (Received March 14, 5.5 p.m.) . LONDON. March 13. . ho situation at Geneva this mornme remained at a deadlock. Senhor ftleilfiaanc o s (Brazil) communication With Rio de Janeiro resulted in a modification of Brazil’s attitude to such extent that she is disregarded in the day’s negotiations. Moreover, it is announced that Herr Unden (Sweden) is confined to his bed with bronchitis, and is unlikely to be able to attend tho council and vote. The Germans conferred with the French, after which the Locarnoites assembled, Lord Robert Cecil being present for the first time, with the result that Gormanv was asked to agree to Poland’s having a non-per-manent seat until September, and that the meanwhile a commission be instituted.

Dr. Luther and Herr Stresemann later declared that they could not accept the terms. They pointed our that they represented only a minority of the Reichstag, and had no authority to agree to any change in the composition of the council before Germany’s entry.

PATHETIC EXHORTATION It is understood that M. Briand again made a paiHietio exhortation to tho Gormans, claiming that a nevr situation had risen, and thev must a 9 statesmen adapt themselves to the new conditions. During the arguments both sides threatened resignations. The Germans remained immovable. claiming Germany’s sole unconditional admission. “CAN DO NO MORE” M. Briand, in a press interview, stated: “Wo have gone to the extreme limit of concessions. Germany agreed to enter th© League without special treatment. Now she makes conditions which wo cannot accept. We can do no more.” The Germans, on tho other hand, have resented the resuonsibilitv being thrown upon them. What will follow to-day no one knows or ventures to guess. There is still an idea that the whole matter will he postponed till September. One correspondent avers that it is only a matter of h<\urs before the delegations will pack up. On the other hand it is felt hat a solution may come at iLn hour*

'Several sources indicate that the Dominion representatives have informed Sir Austen Chamberlain in most direct terms that they will vote against any increase of the council apart from that of Germany. SWEDEN’S STAND A MATTER ~OF~PRINOTPLE. Reuter's Telegram STOCKHOLM, March 12. It is semi-officially stated that the Spanish Government has officially made representations to the Swedish authorities in reference to the enlargement of the League Council, but the Swedish Government pointed out that Sweden’s position on that point was purely a matter of principle. PRESSURE BY POLAND ECONOMIC WAR THREATENED. Reuter’s Telegram. (Reoeived March 14, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, March 13. A report from Copenhagen states that Poland is bringing pressure on Sweden to change her attitude, failing which they will threaten an economic war. The reports from Warsaw state that a mass meeting of students passed a resolution in support of Poland’s claim. Thousands marched in a procession singing the national anthem. OFFERS TO RESIGN. (Sydney “Sun” Cable.) Sweden offered to resign her seat on the League Council in favour of Poland, and Belgium also offered te act similarly. SEAT OF THE LEAGUE OPPOSITION TO GENEVA. Australian and N Z. Cable Association. (Reoeived March 14, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, March 13. The suggestion to remove the seat of the League from Geneva to Lausanne, Locarno, or elsewhere was raised by Mr Mao White (Ireland), and caused a flutter among the committee dealing with the project of building the new League offices and assembly nail. Mr Mac White complained that only limited privileges and immunities were at prosent accorded to the delegates. 1116 Swiss representatives, who were most concerned, gave assurances of Switzerland’s willingness to meet the objections and to grant all the necessary facilities. They would acquire the present Secretariat building at an equitable price, and secure a sito for a new building. The committee accepted these assurances, and decided to erect the new buildings at Geneva. BRITISH PRESS NERVOUS “FESTERING INTO AN ULCER.--Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 14, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. Tho British Press remains nervous. Many papers pass no comment. Those wnich do lament the squabbling The “Daily Chronicle” asks: “Why does Mr Baldwin permit it? It says that if Sir Austen Chamberlain had said frankly that the Council was called solely to admit Germany, the intrigue would have dried up, instead of festering into an ulcer which is poisoning the League’s lifeblood.” The “Observer” says: “Tho long week of squalid squabble has besmirched the name of Locarno and discredited the League like nothing since its foundation. A 0 its enemies are exultant j its supporters stand aghast. Bolshevists and Junker Diebnrds rejoice. America’s alienation- is now contemptuously confirmed. The friends of reconciliation m Germany are weakened. It is no time to te mealy-mouth-ed. In Britain the whole episode has made a disgusting impression on public opinion. Every dictate of decency required that the letter and the spirit of Locarno should he implemented before the claims of Poland, Spain, and Brazil were raised.” WHOLE WORLD AGHAST Tho “Sunday Express” says the whole world stands aghast at the coldblooded murder of the Locarno spirit before the war of grouping antagonisms, all resurrected in darker and deadlier forms. Tho “Sunday Times” says: "We are to blame for not having asserted ourselves sooner and made it plain to everybody, firstly, that we regarded Germany’s sole admission as a point rvf honour; secondly, that it * as our policy to reserve permanent seats for Great Powers.” BRIEF SITTING OF ASSEMBLY GENEVA, March 13. The morning sitting of the Assembly was of the “briefest. The president paid' a tribute to the memory of Leon Bourgeois, and whereafter the Assembly adopted the report of the committee dealing with tho supplementary estimates on the erection of a conference hall and annexes to the secretariat, involving an expeediture of 13,000,000 Swiss francs. eleventh"hour solution POSSIBILITY INDICATED DECISION ON TUESDAY. Australian and N.Z. Cnblo Association. March 14. 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. While tho London papers yesterday morning regarded the position as hopeless, the Australian Press Association indicated the possibility ot eleventh hour solutions. These were forthcoming in the course of th© day. Dr Luther and Herr Stresenmu strongly advocated the referring of the whole question of new «eats to a commission reporting *■** Soutember. In

the meantime several minor States intimated their willingness to withdraw from the Council in order to facilitate the entry of newcomers. The council, meeting unofßeilly, decided, however, to convoke the Assembly on Tuesday for consideration of Germany’s entry, following which the Council will meet for the purpose of creating a permanent seat for Germany. This council will he critical, and will force all to show their hands. Germany, failing unanimity, may withdraw from vhe League, in which case the Council will appear before the Assembly in order to explain the position publicly. GROTESQUE PERFORMANCE Herr Stresemann conferred with M. Briand for two hours in the evening. Later ho issued a statement that Tt was a grotesque performance to invite Germany to Geneva, and to keep her waiting a week -bile nothing occurred except demands that Germany should accept various conditions before she became a member. He reiterated that he was willing to agree to the appointment of a commission. Germany was ready, as soon as she was admitted, to do her utmost to solve tho problem at the September session, and pledged herself that whatever nations the Assembly might then elect 6he would readily accept regardless of whether she was in a majority or minority. “It is ridiculous,” declared Herr Stresemann later to the Press, “that the peace policy should he shattered for the sake of the petty creation of a seat on the Council. The Locarno partners should stick to> get her.” WILL WAIT AND SEE Dr Luther, addressing German jour* nalists, said: “We cannot differentiate between permanent and non-per-manent seats, because our attitude is based on principles. We cannot bring pressure on anybody. We support a commission.' Wo will wait and see what happens.” The whole question, therefore, remains shelved until Tuesday, unless in the meantime, as is hoped, everything is smoothed for Gerrr.any’s entry unconditionally.